Malvern Hills

Just a brief one from a walk along the Malvern Ridge. My girlfriend and I were staying at the Malvern Spa Hotel for the weekend for our anniversary. I can highly recommend it, it's a great place, especially in the winter months when you can sit outside in the spa pool watching the stars.

Anyway, on the morning we took a walk along the ridge, didn't really see to much as you really do need to get up there early before the dog walkers flush everything. I saw plenty of Fungi but haven't gotten around to identifying them yet.

I at least managed to get a photo to add to the blog tally, a Wheatear which as per usual is not very good quality, if only consistency was the name of the game eh?

Wheatear

Dorset Bird Fair - October 2013

Had a nice trip down to Durlston Country Park for the Dorset Bird Fair back in October. The weather was amazing, nice sunny day which although nice for us was not too great for the migration we were there to witness as the skies were windless.

 

I arrived too late on day one as we were staying with friends so a nice meal and fair few drinks the night before to catch up. Anyway, I missed the emptying of the moth traps which I was gutted about as I've started to get interested in moths (and other insects) recently. There we're some great moths about though, there were about 10 Convolvulus Hawk Moths - I had NO idea that moths in the UK could get anywhere near that big, they were huge!!

 



Convolvulus Hawk Moth

 

There were some great lectures, field trips and demonstrations and will certainly be going again next year. It's unbelievable how much some people know about birds and nature, I learnt quite a bit about bird flight calls and patterns which I never thought I would learn myself, basically if I didn't get a good view then I'd write it off.

 

I didn't manage to get too many photos as I spent the time listening to the field trip leaders and attending the presentations but I got a few to add to the blog.

 

Chiffchaff

 Jackdaw

 

 Whinchat

 

 Meadow Pipit

 



Stonechat (Yes it's the same photo)

 

Saw my first Clouded Yellows too, not the greatest shot as they would not sit still for two seconds.

Clouded Yellow

 

Was nice to see some birds associated with the coast due to me living practically bang-on in the middle of the country. I saw Shag, Rock Pipit, Brent Geese, Gannet, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Stonechats and Whinchats. The more experienced guys had Yellow-browed Warbler and an overflying Richard's Pipit!

 

I look forward to attending again next year when I'll make sure I plan it better so I can be there for the opening of the moth traps and for the early morning bird ringing sessions.



Still Alive

I haven't posted for almost 6 months now but promise to catch up soon with what's been missed.  Essentially I had a holiday in Sri Lanka back a few weeks after my last post so I have a number of photos to upload from that.

Upon my return from holiday I was concentrating on training finishing touches for 'Tough Mudder' during which my camera suffered water ingress so was not functional. I was then busy training for London to Paris, actually not much training but lots of sponsorship drives so that took up a lot of my time.

I now have my camera bag - yippee; binoculars are still in for repair though so am having to rely on my back-up pair.

It's the Dorset Bird Fair this weekend so looking forward to that, hopefully get some more photos to add.  They are going to be moth trapping so also looking forward to that as spent the summer getting interested in moths, butterflies and insects too, primarily as I can take photos with my phone....!

A couple of moth photos are here: Twitter

Bucks Stone Curlew!!

After work yesterday, I checked the bird news as usual and was presented with the news that a Stone Curlew had been present at Gallows Bridge Farm (Part of BBOWT - Upper Ray Meadows). I've been there a few times before and for me the site seems great for raptors, I've only realised today that the area is far more expansive than I thought, I only knew about the Gallows Bridge Farm site.  Anyway, enough rambling...... The news of a Stone Curlew - in Bucks!! I couldn't believe it, finding out at the end of the day though I presumed it would move on overnight however news came this morning that it was still present so since I had time to dash over before work I couldn't resist.

I turned up at the site which was already occupied by a few local birders, bad news though, they were unable to locate it but informed me that as they were arriving a departing birder informed them they'd had views.  So I set about scanning the field and located the Stone Curlew tucked up against the hedge on the opposite side of the ploughed field to the right of the entrance track. It was sheltering from the biting cold wind which inevitably was blowing directly into our faces - it's April.....!

I watched the Stone Curlew for about 10 minutes and fired of a few photos but the light was dim and the bird distant so this was the best I could manage.

43. Stone Curlew

 

Although it was difficult to get a decent photo, I still managed some fairly decent views but only through the telescope.

 

Since the Stone Curlew was remaining tucked up and sheltered I thought I'd best have a look around the rest of the reserve.  Not a great deal to offer, suppose the cold, wind (and some snow - it's definitely April?) keeping everything hunkered down.

 

There were a few Canada Geese about, heard a Skylark and Curlew and had a Raven fly over then sat in the hide for 15 minutes or so. Slowly scanned the area, 3 Fieldfare were pointed out to me, I then located 2 Curlew the other side of the field by a small pool of water, this also contained a few Coot, Widgeon, Teal and a Shovelar. Whilst there the Canada Geese came over to the pond on which the hide overlooks, these were joined by a pair of Pied Wagtails.  Just before leaving 2 Stock Dove flew in and afforded so nice close views.

 

I left the hide just in time to catch a Red Kite flying over, got off a few shots but again nothing the write home about (or to blog about to be honest!) but here is the best of the lot.

 

44. Red Kite

 

As I was making my way back to the car I noticed the reserve had gotten a lot busier and that the throng of people were not looking were I'd been watching the Stone Curlew.  I made my way over to them to be told the Stone Curlew had moved and was offering better views.  Looking through the telescope there was no mistaking a Stone Curlew, I could even make out the yellow eye and the bill was obvious.  It was now quite active although still fairly distant and I was hoping it would move closer to us to allow me to get some better images but a new arrival parked next to it for a close view and spooked it resulting in it flying back to it sheltered spot on the far side of the ploughed field, I managed a couple of shots before it flew and one of it in flight.

 





 

That was enough of the Stone Curlew, more honestly I was frozen solid and needed to warm back up. Whilst loading everything back into the car a nice male Reed Bunting kindly posed on the bird table.

 

 45. Reed Bunting

 





 

As I was opening the gate to leave the reserve I watched whilst 4 Ravens were being harassed by jumping Canada Geese who were obviously concerned the Ravens were flying too low and too close for their liking - Funny.

Local Area

Quickly popped out around the local area today with a walk over to Salford Priors gravel pit.  A lot of the local fields still contain flood water, one of which had about 8 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Grey Heron.
We have quite a few Red-legged Partridge around the area of the gravel pit and local farms, they seem to like to hang out on the road during the evenings, not sure if it's down to the tarmac holding the heat of the day?

I managed a few shots but none of them great, the light was horrendous (got to blame something!) Best bird of the walk was a great view of a female Sparrowhawk, she moved quick and low across my path, I tried to get a photo  but only managed to get one which was extremely blurred.

38. Buzzard

39. Carrion Crow

40. Red Legged Partridge

41. Lapwing

42. Pheasant